Signal-flag staff



(No Model.)

B. W. PRICE 82; H. A. RUSSELL.

SIGNAL FLAG STAFF.

No. 363,345. Patented May 17, 1887.

INVENTORS:

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REES W. PRICE AND HENRY A. RUSSELL, or osKALoos iowA.

SIGNAL-FLAG STAFF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 363,345, dated May 17,1887. Application filed J due 17, 1886. Serial No. 205.472. (No model.)

county of Mahaska and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and usefulImprovement in Signal-Flag Staffs, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention consists in an improved signal-flag staff, designed to beused on engines, trains, and by switchmen on railroads in eX- hibitingsignal-flags of different colors, and which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa perspective view ofour improved flag-staff. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central sectional viewof the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the lower end of the hollow staffwith that end cap removed, and Fig. 4. is a detail perspective view ofthe lower end of one of the rods with its attachments.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures. 7

Referring to the several parts by letter, A indicates the hollowflagstaff, which is in the form of a cylinder, and is closed at each endby the end caps, B B. This cylinder may be made of any desired material,although tin or very light sheetmetal is preferable. In the lower end ofthis hollow staff are secured the small brackets O, which form bearingsfor the lowerends of the rods around which the flags are wrapped. Theserods D may be of any 'de sired number, according to the number of flagswhich it is desired to use; but in the accompanying drawings we haveshown three of these rods and flags, and the upper ends of these rodsare seated in bearings E, formed on the inner side of the uppercap-piece of the staff, while their lower ends turn in apertures G inthe brackets O, the extreme lower ends of the rods bearing against thelower end cap of the staff. The upper portion of each rod is preferablyenlarged, or may have a wooden sleeve, F, secured concentricallythereon,while around the lower portion of each rod is placed a coiled spring, G,the upper end of which is rigidly secured by passingit through a smallhole, G, in that portion of its rod, and bending it around the same,while its lower end is secured in a similar manner, as shown, to thestationary bracket in which the lower end of its rod is journaled. Onthelower end of each rod, immediately above the bracket in which it isjournaled, is immovably secured a ratchetwheel, H, having the inclinedteeth H, and a centrally-pivoted pawl, I, pivoted on the upper side ofeach bracket, engages with the inclined teeth of this ratchet-wheel, andis normally held in engagement therewith through the influence ofa smallcoiled spring, J, which encircles the outer portion of a pin, J, whichworks in an opening, A, in the lower end of the casing A, and ispivotally secured at its inner end to the rear end of thecentrally-pivoted pawl I, the spring J being coiled around that portionof each pin between its headed outer endand the outer side of the hollowstaff A, a washer, J, being preferably placed between the lower end ofeach spring Jand the outer side of the staff.

Arou'nd the upper enlarged portion of each rod is wrapped a flag, K, theinner end of which is secured to its rod, the three flags being ofdifferent colors-one red, one white, and one greenand the hollowcylindrical staff A is formed with the'longitudinal slots A, ofsufficient length each to admit of the flag which is next to it passingreadily through it. The outer end of each flag is passed through itsregistering-slot in the staff, and is formed with an enlargement, K,which prevents the outer end of the flag being drawn inside of the staffwhen the spring G operates to wrap it around its rod.

The operation of our invention is as follows: When the switchman orother operator by the side of the track or on the train desires todisplay a signalflag of a certain color, he catches hold of the outerend of the particular flag which-he desires, and draws it out of thehollow staff through its slot until it is fully displayed. As the flagis thus unwrapped, the rod on which it is mounted is of course rotated,and thus winds up or coils tightly the spiral spring encircling itslower portion and secured thereto by its upper end and at its lower endto the bracket secured to the inner side of the lower end of the casing,the springactuated pawl engaging with the inclined teeth of theratchet-wheel on the rod, and thus holding the rod firmly at the pointof its rotation IOU to which it is drawn by the unwrapping of the flag.\Vhen the operator desires to withdraw the flag within the hollow staff,he presses with his fingeror thumb upon thepin J of that rod, therebyturning the centrally-pivoted pawl, so as to free its operative end fromthe inclined teeth of the ratchet-wheel secured upon the lower end ofthe rod, when the spiral spring, rapidly uncoiling to its normalposition, will rotate its rod, so as to wrap the flag smoothly andrapidly around it, thus withdrawing the flag within the hollow staffuntil its enlarged outer end comes in contact with the jaws of the slot.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages ofour invention will be readily understood. It will be seen that it isexceedingly simple and strong in construction, and therefore not liableto get out of order, and that it is very efficient in its operation. Itsuse dispenses with the necessity of keeping three separate flag-stalfsand flags, and combines the threein one staff, so that they are alwaysat hand and ready for instant use, which is a most important feature.

Having thus described. our invention, what we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is Iii a signalflag staff, the combination ofthe cylinder having the longitudinal slots and provided with thebearings at its upper and lower ends, the rods having the ratchet-wheelsat their lower ends, the spiral springs, and the spring-actuated pawlshaving, the outwardlyextending releasing-pins, all constructed andarranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

REES W. PRICE. HEN BY A. RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. LACEY, J. O. MoOALL.

